Improvement in grain-separators



Z Sheets-Sheet 1.

J': H. ELWARD.

GRAIN-SEPARATOR. No.183-,656. Patented 0ct.24, 1876.

N.PEIERS. PHOTO-L|THOGMPHER. WASHINGTON. U C,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. H. ELWARD.

GRAIN-SEPARATOR. N0.183,656. Patented Oct. 24,1876.

gw/a-fmx N-FEl'ERS. PHOTaUTHOGRAPHEH. WASHINGTON. D Cv UNITED STATESJOHN H. ELWARD, OF ST. PAUL, ASSIGNOR TO SEYMOUR,

OF STILLWATER, MINNESOTA.

PATENT OFFICE.

SABIN & 00.,

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAlN-SEPARATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 183,656, dated October24, 1376; application filed September 1, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. ELWARD, of St. Paul. in the county of Ramseyand State of Minnesota, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Grain Thrashing and Separating Machines, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken on line 00 3 Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a side view taken from the sideopposite to that shown in Fig. l.

A A A represent the frame-work and casing of the machine, which may beof any usual or approved construction, as shall bev best adapted tosupport the operating device. B represents the thrashing-cylinder. G isthe concave bed, the side pieces G G of which are pivoted to the frameat their rear ends, as indicated at c. The front end of each side pieceO is formed into a toothed segment, 0 each segment being an arc of acircle, the center of which is one of the pivots c. D is a shaft,mounted in suitable bearings, and carrying near each end a toothedpinion, d, these pinions meshing with the toothed segments 0 O at thefront end of the side piece of the concave O. D is a hand-lever, keyedor otherwise secured to one end of the rock-shaft D, the upper end ofthis lever being arranged within convenient reach of the operator whenhe is feeding grain to the machine. The upper end of this lever may besecured in any desired position by means of a notched rack or otherequivalent locking device, or by a pawl and ratchet wheel on the shaftD, as indicated at d, Fig. 3.

It will be readily seen that, by means of this construction, a personcan, while engaged in feeding the machine, adjust the height of theconcave relative to the cylinder without leaving his position, wheneverthe varying condition of the grain or other circumstance renders suchadjustment desirable.

E E are rocking heads, having stub axles or journals E projecting fromone side, these stub-axles being mounted in suitable hearings in or uponthe frame-work. These heads are arranged within the walls or sides ofthe machine, and have bearings e e for a purpose which will soon beexplained. F is the strawcarrier or separating table or platform of anyusual or approved construction, which is adapted for the purpose. G isthe grain-carrier or grain-table, which receives the grain, chaff, andloose heads, as this material falls through the straw-carrier F, anddelivers it to the winnower. f and g are supporting-bars attachedrigidly to the lower sides of the straw-carrier and the grain-table,respectively. Each of these bars has its ends shouldered and made to fitwithin the bearings e e in the rocking heads, and to move freelytherein, so that as these heads are oscillated, by means to beexplained, the straw-carrier and grain-table have the desired motionimparted to them.

From an examination of the drawings it will be readily seen that, bymeans of the combination of the two tables with the rocking heads, onetable being above the stub-axle and one table being below said axle ineach head, I am enabled to mount the bars fand g, or either of them,loosely in bearings formed in the heads, and yet avoid the tendency totip the heads over, and thus bind and wrench the hearings in the wheelsand the boxes of the stub-axles, which would ensue if one tableonly wereused in connection with said rocking heads. It is also apparent that theemployment of stub-axles permits a greater range in the rise and fall ofthe tables (especially of the upper one) than could be had with shaftswhich ran through from the center of each head to the center of theopposite one, as my construction will permit the upper table to descendeven below the centers of the rocking heads, which enable me to reducethe height of the machine.

One advantage which is derived from attaching the bars f g to theirrespective tables and mounting their ends loosely in the bearings e e isthis: These bearings can be oiled from the outside of the machinethrough holes E cut in the casing. I have shown the holes circular inshape, but it is evident that they may be made in any other form whichwill admit of oil being readily introduced into the bearings e e.

Upon each side of the machine there is a link, H, connecting the headsE. I is a shaft, carrying at each end a plate or disk, 1, each diskhaving a number of holes, a, these holes varying in regard to theirdistances from the center of shaft I-that is, each plate may have onehole three inches from the center of the shaft; another hole three and ahalf inches from the center of the shaft; another four inches from thecenter, and so on. As each disk is connected with one of the rockingheads E, or, preferably, with one of the links or connecting-bars H, bya pitman, 1 it will be seen that the rotation of the shaft I and disks II will impart a rocking motion to the heads E E and tables F G. K is asecond shaft, mounted in hearings on the frame and carrying a spur-gear,L, which engages with a corresponding spur-gear, L, on shaft 1. N is aband pulley on shalt K, through which motion is communicated to theshaft K from the cylinder-shaft, or otherwise.

By the employment of a second shaft, K, and then operating the crank-shaft' I, I an enabled to make a much more compact and effectiveconstruction, it being apparent that if I were to apply the band'pulleyN to the shaft I it would be necessary to place one of the pitmen I andits driving-plate or disk I some three or tour inches farther from theside of the machine than I now do, in order to make room for the pulleyN between the disk and the side of the machine. This would necessitatethe lengthening of thestubaxlesor other connections between that pitmanand the rocking head three or four inches, which would be objectionableon account of the additional strain which it would impose upon thebearment of this second shaft enables me to divide the strain of shaft Imore equally between the bearings at each end than I could if bandpulleyN were applied to-one end of the shaft.

A heater, 0, having blades each in one continuous piece, serves todeflect the straw from the thrashing-cylinder to the separating-table F.

I claim- 1. The combination, with the rocking heads E E, provided withstub-axles, and the bearings e e, of the shafts I K, gears L L, disks 1,and pitman 1 substantially as set forth.

2. The heads E, provided with the stubaxles E in combination with thetables F G, connected to said head, respectively above and below theircenters ofoscillation, substantially as set forth.

3. The rocking heads E, provided with bearings e c, in combination withthe supportingarlns .fg, one or both mounted in said bearings, so as torotate or rock therein, substantially as set forth.

JOHN H. ELWARD.

Witnesses:

R. O. MOORE,

H. L. PILKINGTON.

ings of the heads. Furthermore, the employ-v

